The city council's Meals on Wheels team provide a vital lifeline to mainly elderly residents by delivering a hot, nutritious meal 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Delivery drivers will be out working on Christmas Day and throughout the festive season as usual.

On the menu this year is a choice of a traditional turkey Christmas dinner, roast beef, salmon crumble or mushroom, leek and cheddar bake. For dessert people can choose from Christmas pudding with custard or festive fruit trifle.

Several local businesses have kindly stepped in this year to donate additional treats to make the festive season extra special.

Meals on Wheels drivers always spend a few minutes chatting with their client, checking they are well and at Christmas will pull a cracker with them.

Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment, said: "Many people who receive Meals on Wheels are elderly with limited mobility and many live alone. So the visit from their driver on Christmas Day is really important as it could be the only person they see.

"To our drivers this is more than a job. It is a vocation and they really care about the people they deliver to and form a bond with them. They know that popping in wishing the person a happy Christmas, having a chat and delivering a hot meal can mean a great deal to people who might not have anyone else to spend Christmas Day with.

"We're really grateful to the businesses who have donated treats to make Christmas for our Meals on Wheels customers extra special.

"If the weather was to take a turn for the worse our drivers will do everything possible to still get the meals out there. We are proud to say that we've never missed a delivery."

Meals on Wheels in Wolverhampton is available to anyone and no assessment is necessary. People can sign up for a daily hot meal delivery, or a flexible package can be arranged on days to suit. There is also an option for frozen meals to be delivered.